Pattern recognition receptors: Doubling up for the innate immune response

Antigen presenting cells (macrophages and dendritic cells) express pattern recognition molecules that are thought to recognize foreign ligands during early phases of the immune response. The best known of these are probably the Toll-like receptors, but a number of other receptors are also involved. Several of these recognize endogenous as well as exogenous ligands, suggesting that they play a dual role in normal tissue function and host defense.